Big and Little Coloring Devotional: “So Much More Than A Coloring Book…”

**The story of how Big and Little Coloring Devotional started and became “so much more than a coloring book…”**

February of 2016, I overcommitted. Have you ever overcommitted to saying “yes” to everyone too? *Sigh*

At this time, I began getting more traction in my writing journey–my biggest feat: this post blasted to over 100 million people (shocked emoji inserted). The path I was on continued to lead me to a bunch of “yes” responses for guest posting on various sites. Yet, I suddenly felt myself suffocating under the weight of it all. I had said one too many “yes’s” in order to appease the crowd and build my writing resume. It was all getting to be too much.

I submitted myself in prayer. God gave me the peace and assurance I needed to move forward with a hard decision. It wouldn’t make much sense to those of you who understand the process of growing a community of readers and listeners as a rising writer and speaker. But I knew the things I had said “yes” to were not the things God wanted me to pursue at that time.

So I did one of the hardest things: I apologized and backed out of my obligations, saying “no” to all of those people I had committed to.

But then, the most amazing thing happened…I felt free! At peace, knowing I was right where God wanted me.

Although I didn’t understand it at the time, God wanted my schedule open to prepare me for my next big assignment.

It was a typical #momlife kind of day: stressed out, overwhelmed, overrun by three toddlers. My two-year old daughter beckoned me to sit and color in Mickey Mouse with her. Feeling the mom guilt, I hurdled over all the hard plastic toys (waiting for a soft foot to land) and sat next to her in the much-too-small-for-me chair. With our markers, we sat and colored in Mickey characters.

I had been doing a bit of research on anxiety–due to my own struggle with it. The multitude of adult coloring books are everywhere these days, but I remained skeptical as I didn’t really believe they would help me with my anxiety struggles. Yet, this moment with my daughter changed everything.

Suddenly, five minutes had gone by and I noticed how very different my mood and internal energies felt. No longer did I feel so overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious like I did a few minutes earlier. Hmmm, maybe there really is more to this coloring thing? But as I sat there coloring with her, something was missing…

Ah ha!

I pulled out my phone and clicked on a devotional app. Yes, this is softening my soul in ways the book wasn’t reaching. But soon my daughter noticed my face glued to my phone. With my attention clearly off my daughter and the coloring at hand, I knew this method wasn’t going to work.

I wonder….

Jumping on the ever popular Amazon site, I searched for a book which included both adults and children with devotions and Scripture. My results? NOTHING. I couldn’t find one book like this.

The idea for this book began to form.

I started to think, maybe God had me pull back from those other writing assignments so I could do this one?Maybe this is what God’s been prepping me for all along through my BLAST program (Building Leaders Authors Speakers Teachers), to propel me to publish my first book? Maybe this whole coloring book with adults and children isn’t such a bad idea? I was excited! So of course I told my husband…

“No, absolutely not!” He retorted. “You just pulled back because you were overwhelmed with all the writing and speaking stuff while trying to keep up with the demands of the house and kids.”

“I know…” I pleaded, “but I really think this is what God is preparing me to do? I mean, it’s a really unique idea which hasn’t been done before!”

“Unless God makes this absolutely clear, I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” (Please know, my husband is very good at helping me keep my priorities straight. I’ve given him this job and completely respect his opinion and he respects mine. I’m often impulsive in nature, and he knows it. Therefore, he’s become my filter for all the crazy ideas and shenanigans that barrel through my head at every given moment to sort out the “God” stuff, from the stuff that merely “distracts.”)

“Yes, I know. I’m definitely going to pray over this and ask what God wants before moving forward.” I prayed and dreamed throughout the day, asking God for direction. For clarity and peace to know if He was in this dream.

Later that afternoon, I was reading through a passage in Jeremiah which stuck out to me like a neon sign… “Don’t forget the devotions of your youth.”

Now, I know the context of this Scripture is completely different. But, you know when you read something in Scripture and it has a special kind of ring to it? Like God is trying to tell you something through that verse, or passage, or story that relates specifically to you? This was one of those moments. After praying and asking God for confirmation, I knew this was it.

I read it to my husband along with some other Scripture verses I had come across that day which all seemed to fit. He agreed.

But with this project, it was like suddenly I had special Jesus juice surging through me to get this done. Like a baby ready to birth, I began birthing this baby with a fire in my heart and soul like nothing I’ve experienced before. That Friday night I was up past midnight, and nearly every night after this for two weeks straight working on this project. Yet, I NEVER felt tired during the day, and I continued to have energy for this project. (And I don’t think it was the coffee.)

Now, for those not educated with how the publishing world works, let me give you a cliff notes version to getting a book traditionally published:

Pitch to a number of Literary Agents (perhaps a few smaller Publishers if you can obtain the direct submission email). Personally craft each one and abide by their agency guidelines before submitting.

Wait, wait, and wait some more! (Sometimes you hear back from them, but most often if they don’t want to represent you, you will NEVER hear back. If you hear back, it still may be a “no” but with some helpful feedback. It’s quite an exciting day when you get a “yes” response (like winning the lottery.) Literary agents usually get hundreds of email requests per week from aspiring authors submitting their manuscripts, hoping for a “yes” response and agent contract to represent their book.

Once you hear a “yes” from an agent, you sign their contract and the agent now pitches it to Publishers they think will be interested in giving you a book contract!

Wait, wait, and wait some more! (Getting a contract with a Traditional Publisher is a LONGGGGGGG process of waiting, not to mention very competitive. You may hear a “yes” or you may hear a ton of “no’s” and quite possibly, never get your book published–at least not through traditional publishing.)

If the publisher says “yes” you’re on your way to writing your first book! (which can take a year or more from the time you sign your contract to the time it is in stores available to purchase). Then comes the process of working with an editor to edit your manuscript, collect endorsements, work on marketing strategies, pick a title/cover, update website(s), build your audience of readers, and drink a ton of coffee. 😉

**There are a few publishers, usually smaller, who do take submissions directly from an author. But the majority of traditional publishers only take submissions of manuscripts from credible literary agents.**

As you can see, this is typically a SLOW process and fairly competitive.

So of course, I hammered out my Query letter first, because any writer knows it can take MONTHS to YEARS to hear ANYTHING (if that) from an agent. I pitched it to a few agents while I began to work on my proposal, thinking I’d have a few months to figure it all out. At this point I had NO illustrator in mind.

Five days later, I heard back from an agent interested in seeing my full proposal! Although this was exciting **Insert freaking out emoji’s!** I also had NO illustrator and NO proposal ready **Insert more freaking out emoji’s!**

After delaying a bit, I frantically contacted a few big name illustrators, whom I never heard back from. I had no clue what to do. So, I did the only thing I could do: got down on my knees and prayed.

I kid you not, that night after praying, I was scrolling through Instagram searching for an illustrator using the hashtag #shepaintstruth, and came across an image that caught my eye. Noticing this illustrator was local (Los Angeles area) and a mama to one, I felt compelled to contact her.

The next day, I chatted with Jacy (“Jackie”) Corral, talking a million miles per minute about my crazy idea-of-a-book and the fact that I already had an agent interested in the project. Her response went something like this:

“You’re not going to believe this. But a few weeks ago, I too felt compelled to do some sort of a devotional coloring book. But I stopped short because for one, I’m no writer. And two, I got so overwhelmed by the whole process of what it took to get a book published, I put it aside a few days ago and told God, if you want this to happen, it’s up to You! And now, here we are.”

Shocked awe doesn’t even describe it.

So of course she said, “Yes” much to my delight. She hammered out a few sample pages and we sent it off to the agent!

My encouragement wall to keep on keeping on with this project

I wish I could tell you the agent said “YES”, but it was in fact turned down. Along with five more rejections we received by agents over the next five months.

But the parts that kept us going were the positive responses we received despite the “no” statements regarding representation. Statements like,

“there’s something special about this book…”

“this book can and should be published.”

“you’ve got serious publishing potential.”

“this is well done and obviously a work from the heart.”

Hungout together for the first time over dinner, July 2016

So we continued to press forward, until I randomly came across a direct submission link to B&H Publishing. It was a long-shot (they are a BIG publisher and typically require agent representation), but I pressed “send” before thinking more of it.

The very next day, we had a contract. **More shocked freaking out emoji’s**

Celebrating with my daughter my first contract!

It has been nothing short of amazing to see how God has worked to get this book, Big and Little Coloring Devotional, into as many hands as possible, as quickly as possible. We barreled full steam ahead with only a few short months to complete it (this was also during the already crazy busy holiday season). From the special marketing incentives LifeWaygave, to the unique perspectives the team of B&H Publishing gave making this book a total winner, to the extreme attention to detail Jacy Corral invested into the creative illustrations of this book, I have been beyond blessed to work with so many amazing people who made this dream a reality.

Holding my book for the first time!

Jacy with her daughter holding her book for the first time!

I hope you can see how this truly is so much more than a coloring book. It is a work of art orchestrated by the Creator Himself. So now, without further adieu, we are excited to bring this faith-filled, fun de-stressing book for you and your “little” to enjoy.

[Post your photos coloring using the hashtag #COLORINGDEVOTIONAL for the chance to be featured!]

Book is set-up “coffee shop style” with adult and child side to encourage eye-to-eye contact and conversation.

No more bumping elbows! Child side and adult side face oppositely from one another.

{Thank YOU so much for: supporting me, cheering me on, and following along with me on this journey. My hope is to bring you valuable resources, books, content, and *future coaching programs* to further your relationship with God and fulfil your God-given purpose.}

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Rachel Swanson is a life coach, author and speaker that wants to Revive your heart to follow God’s purpose for you. Refine the area’s in your life holding you back. Restore your heart and mind to what is True. And Release those God-given dreams into the world.